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Quotes Regarding Mike Williams Decision

Mike Williams' request for reinstatement has been denied by the NCAA on both counts - that of his amateur status and his academic eligibility.*************************Statements from USC - Aug. 26, 2004Re: NCAA's denial of Mike William's request for reinstatement. USC Head Coach Pete Carroll:``It's been a long process awaiting the conclusion of the decision on Mike Williams. The process has been uphill throughout. It's been difficult, anxious, frustrating, all of those things. Today we received word that the NCAA denied Mike's request both on an academic and amateur level. It was a very quick decision. It's hard for me to understand how the NCAA can be so insensitive to wait this long when we are an hour from getting on the plane.'We knew all along from the tone that we got from the highest level, that he would be denied. Their tenor was that he didn't deserve this opportunity. I could tell from the very beginning how hard they were going to make this, but to take it all the way to one hour before we leave? I couldn't be more disappointed. It's very cold and insensitive for them to deny him this opportunity.'As a football team, we have been prepared for this for a while. I'm not surprised by it, but I'm disappointed for Mike and his family. You'll have to go and ask the NCAA for answers, how they can turn someone down who is academically eligible. They flatly denied him with an attitude from the beginning and the timing is really, really terrible.'This isn't the Wizard of Oz making these decisions, these are people. There's a supposed tone of student friendliness now, but that's not the case here. I'm talking about the NCAA at his highest levels. Mike's OK, he could sense it, too. It's been difficult for him. He felt it was an uphill battle from the start. I feel sick for him. The team will be OK, we've prepared without him.''*************************Mike Williams by telephone:``I'm glad it's over. Now the team can move forward and I can move forward. I'm disappointed. I did everything asked of me. I don't know yet what I'm going to do. I'll just relax for the weekend and watch the game and root for my team.''*************************Quotes from Vice President and USC General Council Todd Dickey will be posted at a later time.